Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The two returned to the hospital quietly. They stood downstairs in the dormitory building, where the sky was filled with the glow of the sunset. The sunsets on the island were different every day, and today’s was exceptionally beautiful. The lavender clouds floated in the sky, captivating a group of onlookers.

The corridor windows were crowded with people. When Qin Yao and Gu Cheng appeared, they caught the attention of a few.

The sunset on the horizon was like a dream. However, Gu Cheng's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he pressed his lips together, feeling extremely anxious inside.

After walking this stretch, his anger had subsided. He thought that when they reached the downstairs, if Qin Yao said a few soft words, he would take the opportunity to make peace. But he didn’t expect so many people to be standing outside.

Qin Yao noticed Gu Cheng's face and couldn't help but secretly laugh.

Along the way, she had pretty much figured out what was bothering him. He was upset because she had neglected him. Although she had been in the wrong, Gu Cheng's silent cold war couldn't be condoned either.

It was his fault for not communicating properly.

Stubborn as a mule.

Qin Yao yawned as she looked at the sunset. "Is there something you want to say? If not, should I head up?"

Gu Cheng, who was still hesitating about whether to speak, felt his liver hurt from anger when he heard this. After all that, this girl hadn't taken it to heart at all.

All she needed to do was to act coquettishly and coax him a little.

Gu Cheng closed his eyes. While despising himself, he turned his head and left.

He walked slowly, his ears becoming more sensitive to the sounds around him. If Qin Yao called out to him, he would stop.

But no one caught up to him until he walked outside the hospital.

Sitting in the car, Gu Cheng slammed his fist into the seat back. The engine roared, and there was a faint smell of diesel in the cabin. As the car bounced up and down, his mind was in turmoil.

The banana leaves rapidly retreated behind the car. Gu Cheng hated Qin Yao's cold indifference towards his departure. His memories drifted back to the scene in the family courtyard.

Qin Yao's hand was about to touch him.

He had dodged it.

...Was she angry?

A sudden fear and loss welled up in Gu Cheng's heart. He bit his lips and leaned back against the seat, feeling as if a beast was rampaging inside him. He shouted, "Stop the car."

"Captain Gu, what's wrong?"

Gu Cheng half-closed his eyes. Outside the window, the lavender clouds had all turned fiery red, magnificent and dazzling. It was a beautiful sight, yet it filled his heart with the melancholy and reluctance of dusk.

Inexplicable pain and bitterness spread through his heart.

"Keep driving."

In a place unseen, Gu Cheng leaned in the window corner like a frostbitten eggplant. Darkness enveloped the earth outside, and the word "regret" swept through his entire body.

When he got off the car, Captain Gu rolled up his sleeves and made up his mind to prepare a "peace proposal plan" when he returned to the dormitory. What was so hard about coaxing a woman? He was sure he could learn it.

With his decision made, Gu Cheng stepped out of the car, his feet landing on solid ground. Darkness surrounded him, with only a few scattered lights in the distance.

After entering the password, Gu Cheng walked into the darkness. Three words inexplicably popped into his head—"henpecked."

In the darkness, he was startled.

By the time he reached the office door, Gu Cheng had composed himself. He concluded that his current behavior was just a temporary concession, like Gou Jian of Yue enduring hardship to defeat Wu. Once he passed the probation period and won her hand in marriage, she would listen to him.

He, Gu Cheng, would never be henpecked!

Gu Cheng sneered and sat down at the desk, focusing on the documents. Once he immersed himself in work, he was entirely concentrated and undistracted.

Political Commissar Zhou knocked on the door. "Captain Gu, I knew you'd be here. People are just different. You're managing both work and relationships without falling behind."

"Unlike old Wu, that henpecked man. His private savings were completely uncovered, and he's still worried and afraid of his wife."

Gu Cheng: "..."

"Captain Gu, hasn't Xiao Qin thrown any tantrums with you? Girls tend to be clingy when they're in a relationship. My wife was the same; she used to cling to me and often complained a bit."

Gu Cheng put down the fountain pen, his handsome face as dark as the bottom of a pot, and said expressionlessly, "She has."

Political Commissar Zhou curiously asked, "What happened?"

Gu Cheng's gaze turned icy. "She took the initiative to hold my hand, but I didn't let her."

"..." Political Commissar Zhou looked at him with difficulty, almost losing his breath. How could there be such a man?

Which man in a relationship wouldn’t want to be intimate with a girl? This guy was strange.

"No wonder Xiao Qin is angry with you." Political Commissar Zhou shook his head. "Captain Gu, do you really like Xiao Qin? Or are you just at the age where you find her suitable and are settling for marriage?"

Political Commissar Zhou genuinely felt that Xiao Qin deserved better. He had never interacted with her, but from what he saw, it seemed like Xiao Qin was the one putting in all the effort—embroidering handkerchiefs and taking the initiative to hold hands.

"If it's just settling, don't ruin the girl. There are plenty of considerate men out there. She had a matchmaker, right? Wasn't it Doctor He?"

"Maybe in a few days, Xiao Qin will realize that Doctor He is a better match, and you'll remain a bachelor." Political Commissar Zhou clicked his tongue, saying some provoking words to make sure Gu Cheng appreciated her.

Gu Cheng slammed his hand on the desk. "Are you trying to teach me to be 'henpecked'?"

Political Commissar Zhou was stunned. "?"

"If I ever become henpecked, it'll be your fault." Gu Cheng said coolly.

Political Commissar Zhou: "..."

The appearance of Political Commissar Zhou brought back the sentences that Gu Cheng had read that day. At this moment, Gu Cheng hated that his memory was too good, as the sentences and images kept flooding back to him, like a form of self-torture.

What you think about during the day appears in your dreams at night. Unfortunately, in his dream, the great beauty slipped away like a cooked duck that sprouted wings and flew.

The next morning, Gu Cheng woke up with a face full of resentment.

*

Qin Yao hadn't slept well all night, with dark shadows under her eyes. She had let her mind wander recklessly the previous night and didn't know what time she finally fell asleep.

Comrade Qin sighed deeply in her heart. She realized with great clarity that Gu Cheng was becoming increasingly important in her heart.

Caring is a terrifying thing.

Even more terrifying is the clear realization of one's own fall, sinking deeper into emotions day by day.

"Xiao Qin, did you have a fight with Captain Gu?" Zhang Yufei asked hesitantly before heading out.

Qin Yao shook her head. "Not really."

They hadn't exactly quarreled; it was more of a "cold war."

"That's good. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"I was thinking about some things," Qin Yao said, hating how her thoughts flew around uncontrollably. The more she reflected, the more introspective she became.

She admitted that she had a tiny bit of regret. She had indeed neglected Gu Cheng the previous day.

What made Qin Yao even more flustered was that as she examined her interactions with Gu Cheng, she realized she was becoming more and more like the person she remembered.

She had always despised her overbearing father, yet she found herself behaving similarly in relationships, like that time when she forced Gu Cheng to wear the polka-dot apron and felt smug about it.

How could she have become the kind of person she loathed the most, someone who is self-centered and forces those close to her to listen to her?

One should not become an even more excessive dominator, using emotions to control the other person and making them compromise repeatedly because of fear of losing oneself in a relationship.

Qin Yao decided to change. Gu Cheng had taken the initiative many times before. This time, she would be the one to make the move.

After work today, she would take the initiative to find Gu Cheng, apologize, and clarify things with him. She preferred the Gu Cheng from their first meeting over the "Captain Gu" persona.

As she entered the duty room, Head Nurse Ge called out to her. "Xiao Qin, there's a letter. Captain Gu had someone deliver it this morning. Take a look."

Qin Yao's heart skipped a beat as she took the letter from Head Nurse Ge. The envelope was intact and unopened, with no name or address written on it.

Head Nurse Ge looked up and pressed her temples, a hint of worry in her expression. Normally, she would be curious about what was going on with the young couple, but today she had her own troubles and couldn't spare the thought.

Seeing this, Qin Yao asked, "Head Nurse Ge, are you dealing with something?"

Head Nurse Ge turned to Qin Yao and suddenly had an idea. "Xiao Qin, can you help me with something?"

Qin Yao paused. "What is it?"

"Help me write something," Head Nurse Ge said tentatively. "Many people said you're good at writing stories after that self-criticism letter incident. Recently, I've been asked to contribute to the Southern Women's Newspaper to write about my own achievements. I'm too embarrassed to write about myself."

Head Nurse Ge was hesitant, explaining that the Southern Women's Newspaper wanted to publish stories about outstanding women, and if the article was well-written, it might even be republished in the National Women's Newspaper.

At first, Head Nurse Ge didn't take it seriously and planned to write something casual. She thought, at her age, it didn't matter whether she appeared in the National Women's Newspaper or not. So, she intended to write something perfunctory.

However, last night, her rival Fan Dandan called her, hinting that she knew about it and teasing, "I'm looking forward to reading about your glorious achievements in the newspaper, Old Ge. You're really something."

This annoyed Head Nurse Ge to no end.

After tossing and turning all night, she made up her mind to write a good article. She couldn't let her rival have the last laugh.

She had drafted an outline in her mind but could only write 100 words before getting stuck, feeling utterly distressed.

Qin Yao asked, "Do you want me to write your achievements?"

"Yes," Head Nurse Ge sighed, not expecting much. She thought Qin Yao would refuse since it wasn't a favorable task. Who would be willing to take on such a hot potato, a thankless job?

Qin Yao's eyes flickered. She thought this was a good opportunity. Although it was a challenging and thankless task, if she could produce something that satisfied Head Nurse Ge, the rewards would be significant.

First, it would increase Head Nurse Ge's favorability, and second, it would spread the word about her writing skills.

"Head Nurse Ge, I'll help you. Just let me know what you want, and I'll give it a try," Qin Yao said.

Head Nurse Ge was pleasantly surprised. "Xiao Qin, you really are—yes, yes, yes. Give it a try. Don't worry if it's not well-written; just write freely."

After settling this matter, Qin Yao made plans with Head Nurse Ge to discuss the details at noon. She left the duty room with the letter in hand.

In the corridor filled with the smell of disinfectant, Qin Yao opened the letter. In front of her was the pharmacy window, with a line of people waiting.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Qin Yao wondered what Gu Cheng had written inside. She slipped the white paper back into the envelope, intending not to open it. But after three seconds, she remembered Gu Cheng's previous "three-line love letter."

That thing was like Morse code; only a genius could understand it.

So, in front of everyone, she opened it, and on the white paper were three lines:

A day feels like three autumns.

Carrying the thorns to ask for punishment.

The alliance of Qin and Jin.